Food wrapper



July 20, 965 'r. E. FORD 3,

FOOD WRAPPER Filed May 31, 1963 INVENTOR. THOMAS E. 0 RD ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent 3,195,803 FOOD WRAPPER Thomas E. Ford, Arlington,Mass., assignor to Trans World Services, Inc, Arlington, Mass, acorporation of Massachusetts Filed May 31, 1963, Ser. No. 284,600 '5Claims. (Cl. 229-87) The present invention relates generally to foodwrappers, and more particularly to wrappers that display the contents,preserve their shape and minimize food deterioration from such causes asexposure to the air or contact with foreign substances.

The objects of this invention include the provision of a prefabricatedwrapper of the type that may be nested prior to use, and that may bereadily used with or without mechanical aids or machines for thepackaging of food products, especially solids cut to a predeterminedshape, for example cakes and sandwiches.

Another object is to provide a wrapper that will protect the contentsagainst physical damage, including smashing or other distortions ofshape and puncturing, in such normal uses as stacking for vending ordisplay purposes and handling by a vending machine or in counterservice.

Another object is to provide a wrapper that permits visible inspectionof the contents, as well as the display of suitably-placed designs,identifying data, prices and the like.

Still another object is to provide a wrapper that will protect thecontents against undue exposure and that may be adapted to seal thecontents substantially completely from the air.

Having in view the foregoing and other objects hereinafter appearing,the features of this invention include the provision of a prefabricatedfood wrapper consisting of a cardboard side member laterally scored forfolding to an angular set-up position, and a sheet of relatively thinwrapping material sealed along one edge of the side member on both sidesof the score line, whereby the wrapper may be readily opened to receivethe food and to enclose it within a predetermined shape.

Other features of the invention reside in means for satisfying theforegoing objects by means of a prefabricated wrapper of the above sort,as hereinafter more fully described with reference to the appendeddrawing illustrating the same, wherein FIG. 1 is an oblique view of awrapper embodying this invention in its completely folded condition;

FIG. 2 shows the wrapper partially unfolded in preparation for use;

FIG. 3 shows the wrapper fully opened for receiving the food to bewrapped;

FIG. 4 shows the wrapper partially folded over the food; and

FIG. 5 shows the wrapper fully folded over the food so as to form thecompleted package.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show the wrapper at 12 in three positions. The wrappercomprises a rectangular side member 14 to which is attached a relativelythinner sheet 16 of wrapping material. The sheets 14 and 16 areillustrated as being of rectangular and square shape, respectively,although it will be apparent that certain variations in shape may beintroduced without substantially departing from the teachings of thisinvention.

The illustrated wrapper is specifically designed for sandwiches, and forthis purpose the side member 14 preferably comprises a sheet ofcardboard coated with a material that inhibits the absorption of foodoils or moisture. For example, the cardboard may be a sulfite boardcovered with a polyethylene coating of a well known type. The member 14is relatively stiff in order to impart structural rigidity to thepackage and to permit the stacking of wrapped packages without damage tothe sandwiches, while the sheet 16 is preferably relatively thin andtransparent so as to permit visual inspection of the food. It will beunderstood that the term cardboard as used herein is intended to embraceany suitable sheet packaging material having requisite stiffness andrecognized in the art as an acceptable substitute for the specificmaterial here described. The sheet 16 preferably consists of cellophanecoated with a plastic designated by the trade name Saran. This coatingalso retards absorption of moisture. With the local application ofmoderate heat of the order of 400 to 500 degrees F., the sheet 16 willadhere in sealed relation to the member 14 or to itself as describedbelow. Preferably, the coating on the member 14 is a substance to whichthe relatively thinner sheet 16 may be readily sealed in this manner.

The side member 14 has a lateral score line at 18 about which it iseither folded to the flat posiion illustrated in FIG.1 or opened to theset-up position illustrated in FIG. 3. In the latter position a rightangle A is formed at the score line 18 by portions 20 and 22 of the sidemember. It will be apparent, however, that this angle may be other thana right angle if desired. A right angle is preferred for ease ofstacking and compactness in loading the wrapped sandwiches in cartonsand the like.

The sheet 16 has edges 24 and 26 along which are uniform margins 28respectively sealed to the portions 22 and 20 of the side member by thelocal application of heat. Alternatively, the mode of adhesion may takeany other suitable form such as contact adhesion or gluing.

The side member 14 also has transverse score lines 30 and 31 equidistantfrom its ends and defining flaps 32 and 33, respectively. The sealedmargins 28 extend continuously from the score line 18 to the closer ofeach of these pairs of score lines, although the drawing shows only apart of the margin for clarity of illustration. As seen in FIG. 2 thesheet 16 has a flat fold 34 which takes up the extra material adjacentthe score line 18, and this fold is included within the sealed margins28 so as to prevent an air leak in this region.

The wrapper as described above is preferably factory prefabricated. Itmay be stored and packaged in the completely folded condition of FIG. 1,in the partially folded condition of FIG. 2, or in nested relationshipin the set-up position of FIG. 3.

To wrap an article of food such as a sandwich 35 which has asubstantially triangular shape, cut diagonally to display its fillingcontents 36, the sandwich is placed within the set-up wrapper which isin the position shown in FIG. 3, after which the flaps 32 and 33 arefolded about the acute angles of the sandwich. A corner 42 of the sheet16 is then folded upwardly about the flaps as shown in FIG. 4, thenfolded over the top of the sandwich. The sheet 16 is then foldeduniformly down over the upper edge of the side member 14, further foldedat all corners to provide a close-fitting fit on all sides and finallysealed to the side member throughout the overlapping margins 46 alongthe upper edges as shown in FIG. 5.

The sealed margins 46 are preferably formed by the local application ofheat as generally described above by means of an electrically heatedsurface or iron which may be manually applied or which preferablycomprises a part of a suitable fixture or machine to facilitate therapid loading, folding and sealing of the Wrappers. Alternatively, theseal may comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the marginsof the side member or a pressure sensitive tape overlying the margins.

The completed package of FIG. 5 has many desirable features. Theseinclude its resistance to crushing in the direction of the arrow F,whereby it may be readily fscription.

stacked. without'da'mage to contents. ,The package is sealedsufficientlyto retard the loss of moisture fora considerable length oftime. The contents are visible for identification in a stacked display.The

sheet 16. The coating on the cellophane retards its absorption of waterfrom the contents, frorn'a steam table or from any'source commonlyencountered, further pro,-

flonging the strength ofthe package and the preservation of itscontents,

It will be understood that the length of the flaps 32 and '33 and theshapes of their opposing edges are matters of choice that do notsubstantially affect the wrapping of the package. Also, the flaps maybeof unequal dimensions,

if desired, orthey maybe arranged tom-eet or to overlap. if the displayof contents is to be framed in a different manner or confined to thesides ofthepackage. Iriaddition, theflaps 32 and 33 may be entirely;eliminated, if

desired, in which case the lines 30.and, 31 are cut lines rather than:score lines. T Other variations,.either in the choicerof materials or inthe dimensions,may beam.-

ployed in a manner apparentto one skilled in this art, without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention. i i

invention comprises a prefabricated food wrapper which maybe readily setup to receive thecontents and neatly;

folded about the contents to complete a food package with a minimumofjlabor while obtaining all ofv the desirable results noted above orotherwise apparent from the de- Having thus described the invention, Iclaim:

1. A food wrapper hav1ng,.in combination, a rectan-t gular cardboardsidermernber having a lateral score line for folding to a right angle'position 'and a rectangular said score line, the sheet further having.a sealed flat fold at said corner containing the excess of materialthereof when the side member is set up insaid position, the dimensionsof said sheet being sufficient to permit its fold- It will be seenfromthe foregoinghdescription that 1 sheet of relatively thin wrappingmaterialhaving apair I ing about the side member while in saidposition-to define 'a triangular enclosed space; and to overlie theedgeof the side member opposite to said seale'dedge.

2. A food wrapper'h-aving, in combination, a rectangular cardboard sidemember having a lateral score line for folding to a rightangle position,and a rectangular sheet of relatively thin wrapping material having apair of adjacent sides respectively overlapping the portions of one edgeof the side member on each side of said score line each of said portionsbeing overlapped by and sealed to said sheet along a uniform marginthereof, the sheet further having a sealed flat fold at said score linecontaining the excess of material thereof Whentheside member is set upin said position, the dimensions of said sheet being sufficientto permitits folding about the side member while in said position to define atriangular eri-- closed space and to overlie the edge of the side memberopposite to said sealed edge 3. A foodwrapper having, in combination, a'rectangular cardboard side members having a lateral score line forfolding to a right angle position, and a rectangular sheet of relativelythin wrapping material having a pair of adjacent sides respectivelyoverlapping the portions of one edge of the side member on each side ofsaid score line, each of said portions being overlapped by and sealed tosaid sheet along a uniform margin thereof,1the sheet further having asealed fiat fold. at said score line containing the excess of'materialthereof when the side memher is set up in said position, the dimensionsof said sheet 'being suflicient to permit its foldingtabout theside'mermi her while in saidposition to define .a triangular enclosed "space andto overlie along a uniform; margin the edge of the side, member oppositeto 'saidsealed'edgeL I v p ,4. A food wrapper. having, in combination, arectangular opaque cardboardside member having a first lateral scoreline for folding to' a right angle, set-up position and 'a second scoreline for'folding to a ,45-degree angle in said set-up position, andlagenerally square sheet of relatively thin transparent wrapping materialhaving a pair of adjacent sides respectively oyerlapping the portions of"one edge of the'side member on each side of said first scoreline, eachof said portions being overlapped by and sealed to'said sheet along auniform margin thereof, the corner of the sheet defined by said sidessubstantially coinciding with said first .s'core linathe sheet furtherhaving a sealed flat told at said, corner containing the excesstofmaterial thereof when the side member is set up in said position, thedimensions of said sheet being sufiicieut to permit itsifoldingaboutflthe side member ,while in the set-up p osition to encloseatriangularspace side member opposite'to said sealed edge, I i r 'Awrapper having, in combination, a. cardboard side member having alateralscore line for folding to a predetermined angular position, and asheet .of relatively thin wrapping material'having a pairof adjacentsides sealed in substantially uniform overlapping relation to one edgeof the side'mernber with the angle between said sides beingsubstantially equal to'and coinciding with the angle defined by the sidemember when set up in said posi- "tion, the sheet further havingasealed'fiat told at said score line containing theexcess of materialthereof when the side member is set up inv said position, the dimensionsof said sheet being sufiicient to permitits folding about theside-member while in said angular position to define a' triangularenclosed space and to overlie the edge of the -side member opposite tosaid sealed edge.

Relerences Cited by the Examiner FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary, Examiner.

and to overliealong a uniform margin the edge of the.

1. A FOOD WRAPPER HAVING, IN COMBINATION, A RECTANGULAR CARDBOARD SIDEMEMBER HAVING A LATERAL SCORE LINE FOR FOLDING TO A RIGHT ANGLEPOSITION, AND A RECTANGULAR SHEET OF RELATIVELY THIN WRAPPING MATERIALHAVING A PAIR OF ADJACENT SIDES SEALED IN SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORMOVERLAPPING RELATION TO ONE OF THE SIDE MEMBER WITH THE CORNER DEFINEDBY SAID SIDES SUBSTANTIALLY COINCIDING WITH SAID SCORE LINE, THE SHEETFURTHER HAVING A SEALED FLAT FOLD